Bill Text: HI HB2684 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Cargo Flights.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-01 - Referred to TRN, CPC, JUD, referral sheet 5 [HB2684 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2684-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2684
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to AIR CARGO.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones, is inevitable.  The federal aviation administration predicts that ten thousand drones will be flying in our nation's skies by 2017.  Aviation consultants estimate that by 2022, annual spending on drones will nearly double, rising from the current $6.6 billion to $11.4 billion.

     It is foreseeable that drone technology has many useful applications worldwide, such as border surveillance, policing, and cargo delivery.  The use of small drones to deliver parcels is currently being tested by companies like Amazon and DHL.  However, a more exciting use with greater potential impact will be the completely automated piloting of full-sized cargo delivery planes outside the controller's field of vision, including during takeoff and landing.  Aerospace engineers predict that all cargo aircraft will soon be unmanned.  Economists say that unmanned cargo flights would result in significant cost savings: drone flights without humans on board do not need expensive, heavy life-support systems to keep cabins pressurized; planes can also be made from more efficient, lightweight materials that cut fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions.

     The legislature further finds that the rising interest in drone-piloted cargo planes is also due to the greater reliability and accuracy of drone flights.  Drone piloting makes for an overall safer experience, compared to human-piloted flights that leave room for human error, especially in difficult flying conditions such as poor visibility and bad weather.

     The purpose of this Act is to aid in the research and development of drone-powered cargo planes by authorizing test flights arriving or departing from Honolulu International Airport, provided that all necessary clearances have been obtained from the federal government.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 261, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§261-A   Unmanned aerial vehicles; cargo test flights.  The department shall authorize flights by air cargo carriers conducted for the limited purpose of testing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to deliver cargo, with or without human pilots on board as a safety feature, provided that all necessary clearances have been obtained from the federal government.  Such flights shall be limited to cargo test flights arriving at or departing from Honolulu International Airport."

     SECTION 3.  Section 261-15.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§261-15.5[]]  Aircraft registration.  Unless an aircraft is exempted by this section, no person shall operate or cause or authorize to be operated any aircraft at an airport owned or controlled by the department, unless the aircraft has a certificate of registration issued in accordance with rules adopted by the department.  Aircraft exempt from registration required by this section include:

     (1)  Aircraft operating primarily in interstate or foreign commerce;

     (2)  Aircraft owned or operated by the United States;

     (3)  Aircraft in transit through the State; [and]

     (4)  Aircraft operated by any scheduled airline carrier which is a lessee of the State under an airport-airline lease at the Honolulu International Airport and which is commonly referred to as signatory airline[.]; and

     (5)  Cargo aircraft featuring unmanned aerial vehicle or drone technology, authorized by the department to conduct test flights pursuant to section 261-A."

     SECTION 4.  Section 261E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§261E-3[]]  Exemptions; generally.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, this chapter shall not apply to:

     (1)  Persons transporting their own property where the transportation is in furtherance of a primary business purpose or enterprise of that person, except where the transportation is undertaken by a Hawaii air carrier to evade the regulatory purposes of this chapter; [or]

     (2)  Persons engaged in the business of transporting persons solely for sightseeing and other recreational activities not involving point-to-point travel[.]; or

     (3)  Air cargo carriers conducting test flights using cargo aircraft featuring unmanned aerial vehicle or drone technology, as authorized by the department of transportation pursuant to section 261-A."

     SECTION 5.  Section 263-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§263-1  Definition of terms.  In this chapter, "aircraft" includes balloon, airplane, hydroplane, and every other vehicle used for navigation through the air[.], including cargo aircraft featuring unmanned aerial vehicle or drone technology, authorized by the department of transportation to conduct test flights pursuant to section 261-A.  A hydroplane, while at rest on water and while being operated on or immediately above water, shall be governed by the rules regarding water navigation; while being operated through the air otherwise than immediately above water, it shall be treated as an aircraft.

     "Aeronaut" includes aviator, pilot, balloonist, and every other person having any part in the operation of aircraft while in flight.

     "Commercial use" includes the carriage in air commerce of persons or property for compensation or hire, and the lease or rental of any aircraft.

     "Passenger" includes any person riding in an aircraft but having no part in its operation."

     SECTION 6.  The department of transportation shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  In codifying the new section added by section 2 and referenced in sections 3, 4, and 5 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new section in this Act.

     SECTION 8.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 9.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

Report Title:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Cargo Flights.

 

Description:

Aids in the research and development of drone-powered cargo planes by authorizing test flights arriving or departing from Honolulu International Airport, provided that all necessary clearances have been obtained from the federal government.

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.